UNITED STATES. Renee Lynn is a social activist, author and founder of the Voice for India Project. Lynn is best known for raising awareness about India’s political and social issues. A strong woman knows she has enough strength for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong. Lynn is a classic example of such a woman.
Happy Christian upbringing
Lynn was born to a Christian family and raised in New Jersey. Her parents belief in family values had an everlasting impact on her. For Lynn, Christmas celebrations were the happiest time of her childhood.
In an interview with Transcontinental Times Lynn said, “My childhood was very nice. I had really good parents. I have many childhood memories and every memory is very special for me. I just loved Christmas and my parents always made sure that I had a great Christmas. During that time, we used to have a family get-together, celebration and feasts. It was amazing.”
Lynn further went on to talk about the similarities between the Christmas and Diwali festivals of India. She said, “ Christmas is just like Diwali. Both the festivals have lights, gifts, and celebration.
Lynn’s life-changing decision to convert to Hinduism
Lynn’s encounters with different Christian pastors and their different messages confused her.
She shared, “The messages given by the [various churches] were very traumatic for me. The pastors used to say that you need to accept Jesus as your saviour and if you don’t do that you will burn in Hell. It just didn’t make any sense to me. They used to say that you will suffer a lot. That was a lot of guilt and shame upon a person.”
However, when Lynn started to learn about Indian philosophies and Hinduism, things started to change. Lynn said, “I just love the principles of Hinduism. They have immense respect for every religion. Everything in this culture is about peace and harmony. Hinduism is a really beautiful religion.”
In 2006, Lynn became a vegetarian because of Hinduism believes in promoting vegetarianism. Lynn has visited many countries around the world. However, her experience with the Indian culture turned out to be the most life-changing.
Passion for India inspired social activism
Lynn believes that she has some past life connections with India. She said, “India is the best country in the world. I just love it. I may sound biased but it’s the truth. India’s people, hospitality, and culture are just amazing. I have visited many countries, but no other country feels like India.”
She loved India and the Indian philosophies so much that she decided to stay in the country. However, her love for India didn’t end there. She went on to write three books for India where she voiced her support for Indian people.
In her book, India Stripped: Voice for India, she wrote about how mainstream international media broadcasts fake news about India to tarnish the country’s image. She also started the Voice for India project because of what she perceived as propaganda against India.
The purpose of the Voice For India project, Lynn said, is to “expose the truth and reality about India that the mainstream international media and certain Indian media refuse to convey. I have journeyed throughout India numerous times and seen the real India that the international mainstream media is not correctly portraying, but instead covering up the truth.”
Lifestyle changes during COVID-19
When asked about the lifestyle changes she has experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lynn said, “I got a chance to tune with nature. I have set a routine for myself where I go for a walk in the woods. It’s so therapeutic.”
She believes that connecting with nature is beneficial for one’s health and immune system. Lynn said, “ Let me tell you one thing. Since I discovered Hinduism, I have such appreciation for mother earth, nature, environment. I felt that how beautiful everything was.”
Followers and detractors
She says her fans are her inspiration and they motivate her every day. Lynn believes that her work is a combination of her love for India, Hinduism, and the love and support of her fans.
Not everyone supports Lynn’s pro-India message and she has received a threats against her life. “When I see death threats and hate messages I feel like, you know what, I am going to push even harder to get my message out there. I have changed my attitude. I take it as a positive thing. I love you haters.”
